Hydraulic air-compressor.



PATENTED APR. 11, 1905.

W. G. COX.

HYDRAULIC AIR COMPRESSOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27,1904.

ATTORNEYS Patented April 11, 1905.

UNITED STATES PAT NT @TFTQE.

\YllllllAU (1. FOX, OF XlUY YORK, N. Y.

HYDRAULlC AIR-COMPRESSOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 787,150, dated April11, 1905.

Application tilt-ti July 27,1904. Serial No. 218,364.

Be it known that l. \Yuamu (i. Cox, a citizen of the United States. anda resident of the city of New I ork, borough of Manhattan, in the countyand State of New York, have inthe base A in any desired water-tightmanner. An air-vent tube 11 is located at the central portion of thebase A, extending up into the l dome and into a neck 1 at the top ofthe.

vented a new and improved l'lydraulic Air- (.ompressor, of which thefollowing is a full, clear. and exact description.

The purpose of the invention is to improve upon the hydraulicair-compressor for which Letters Patent were granted to me i\lay 3,too-t, Serial No. 759,158, to such an extent that the mechanism issimplilied and two floats instead of but one are employed, one of thefloats being connected with the lever-arm controlling the outlet andinlet valves for the water.

Another purpose of the invention is to so construct the device that itwill work equally well under high or under low pressure and so that nocentering or balancing point obtained, and, further, to so locate thelimits that they will act as such only when submerged in water, but whenout of the water will act as seating-weights for the outlet-valve and asfactors to sinuiltaneously unseat the inlet valve.

The invent ion consists in the novel construc tion and combination ofthe several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointedout in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanving di awings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorrespoiuling parts in all the figures.

Figure l isa central vertical section through the improved device,showing the parts in their normal position. Fig. 2 is a horizontalsection taken practicz lly on the line 2 2 of Fig. l, and Fig. I) is adetail sectional view of the relief-valve for the air and a portion ofthe traveling float in operative position relative to the said valve.

represents the base of the compressor, the base being preferably of thecircular type,

and said base is supported usually through the medium of legs l as isillustrated in Fig. l.

1% represents a casing, usually of dome shape and which constitutes awater-chainber, the said dome shaped casing B being secured to dome,which neck is in communication with the interior of said dome, and,further, the upper end of the vent-tube 11 is made exteriorly conical,as is shown at 12 in Fig. 3. This air-vent tube it is open at the topand at the bottom, and at its bottom portion, as is illustrated at it inFig. '1, the vent-tube is screwed into the base, passing beyond thelower face of the base, at which point it is provided with a suitablenut l5. holding the said vent-tube in its upright or standing position,the nut being of such type as to render the lower end of the tube llopen to the air.

An inlet-valve is located in the base at one side of the air-vent tube11. This inlet-valve consists usually of a thimble l6, removably placedin an opening in the base, the said thimble extending down into awater-supply tube 19, which is shown closed by a suitable plug 20, thewater from the said supply-tube 19 having free access into the interiorof said thimble. A ball IT is free to move in the thimble l6, and whenthis valve is to be closed the ball 17 is iloatcd upward by the waterentering the thimble and seats itself against an inner annular shoulderat the upper portion of the said thimble. Also preferably in theconstruction of said thimble it is provided with an outer flange 15,resting on the top of the base, as is shown in Fig. i, and the entranceto the thimble from its upper portion is more or less conical, as isalso shown in Fig. '1.

.In connection with the water-supply pipe 19, above mentioned, a mainwater-supply pipe 21 is formed or attached at the bottom portion of thebase, and this main supply-pipe 21 connects with the supply-pipe it)where the thimble of the inlet-valve enters. 'lhe supply-pipe it) can beused, if desired, by removing the plug .20; but usually this pipe iskept closed and the water is supplied to the inletvalve through themedium of the main supplypipe it, which at its outer end is providedwith any approved form of check-valve adapted for connection with anysource of water-suppdy.

IOO

At the opposite side of the vent-tube 11 an outlet-opening 22 is formedof necessary diameter, and this outlet-opening is in communication withan outlet-pipe 22, attached to or formed at the bottom of the base, asis best shown in Fig. 1, and this outlet-pipe 22 is fitted forattachment to a rubber hose, for example, or it can be attached to arigid pipe, as may be desired.

A second pipe or tube 23 is mounted to slide on the vent-tube 11. Theouter tube, which is a guide-tube, does not extend to the upper end ofthe vent-tube, and at the upper end of the said guide-tube 23 a flange23 is provided. This guide-tube 23 is preferably made largest at itsbottom portion and when in position on the vent-tube rests at its bottomon the upper face of the base A. The lower portion 24 of the guide-tn be23 is provided with a collar 25, on which a sleeve 26 rests. This sleeveenters a socket formed in the bore of a hollow float D, made of anysuitable material, which float D is adapted to travel on the saidguidetube 23.

At the upper face of the base A, I mount a valve-lever E. Thisvalve-lever is provided with a fork at its outer end, between themembers of which a stud 29 is received extending up from the base. Thefork portion 28 of this valve-lever is pivoted to the said stud 29. Theinner end 30 of the valve-lever E is bifurcated, so that its members maypass one at each side of the guidetube, and the members of thebifurcated portion 30 of the said valvelevcr are pivoted to the lowerportion of the guide-tube 23 by suitable pivot"pins or trun-' nions 31,as is best shown in Fig. 2.

Between the fork 28 of the valve-lever and its inner bifurcated endportion 30 a trip-pin 33 is adjustably secured. This trip-pin isrendered conical at its lower end, and its lower end is adapted to enterthe thimble 16, forming a portion of the inlet-valve which admits waterinto the dome B, and when the said valve-lever E is in its normalposition (shown in Fig. 1) the point of the trip-pin 33 will bearagainst the ball and unseat it, thus permitting the water from either oftheinlet-pipes 21. or 16 employed to pass up freely through theinlet-valve and into the dome and raise the float D. At the inner end ofthe said valve-lever E a valve 34 is secured, the valve being preferablya disk valve, and this disk valve when the inlet-valve is opened closesthe outlet 22 in the base connected with the dome B. When the valve 34is raised to permit water to be discharged from the dome B, the trip-pin33 is carried out from the thimble-section of the inlet-valve to such anextent as to permit the ball 17 to seat itself and temporarily shut offa further supply of water.

. It may here be stated that the stationary vent-tu be 1 1 under certainconditions conducts the confined air from the dome B and permits more orless air to enter the said dome. The

vent-tube 11 is'unobstructed throughout its. length, the inner end beingin direct communication with the interior of the. dome when the upperportion of the tube is uncovered, while the lower end of the saidvent-tube 11 is at all times in direct communication with the outsideatmosphere.

A bonnet-valve G is employed to normally close the upper end of thevent-tube 11. This bonnet-valve is of sufficient depth to extend downbelow the flange 23 on the movable tube 23 When the top of the valverests upon the top of the stationary vent-tube 11, as is shown in Fig.1, and a flange 37 at the bottom of the valve (i extends beneath theflange 23 on the said movable tube 23. The flange 37 is provided with aringlike member, which is screwed into the bottom of the body of thevalve, and the flange 37 of the valve has such relation to the flange 23on the movable tube 23 that the bonnet-valve (Jr may be raisedsufiiciently to unseat it without acting upon the flange 23*, andconsequently on the valve-lever E. \Vhen the bonnet-valve G is thusraised, which is accomplished by the raising of the float D, air isadmitted from the dome B through openings 39 in the side of thevalvebody to the uncovered vent-tube 11, passing from thence to theatmosphere, thereby at such time reducing the air-pressu re in the upperportion of the dome. As soon as the airpressure in the dome is thusreduced the bonnet-valve G is caused to move farther upward by thecontinued upward movement of the float D, causing the movable tube 23 tobe raised and the valve-lever to be operated to open the outlet-valveand to permit the Water to flow out of the dome, the air at this timepassing into the domethrough the vent-tube 11 to promote the flowofKvater at the outletopening for the dome.

The especial feature of the invention relates to the lower float F,which controls the valvelever E, and said floatF is hollow and maybe ofany suitable material and practically horseshoe in shape. Thevalve-lever E up to its connection with the lower portion of theguidetube 23 is located in the space between the members of the float F;but at its inner end the said valve-lever is secured to the said float Fby means of screws 35 or their equivalents, as is shown by dotted linesin Fig. 2.

The float l) is provided with convexed upper and lower surfaces, whilethe auxiliary or additional float F is usually so constructed that itsbottom is flat and its upper face is concaved or dished, as isillustrated in Fig. 1.

1n the operation of the machine the float F is buoyant only when it isimmersed in fluid and the fluid is relieved from air-pressure; but whenthe said float is not subjected to the action of fluid it becomes andserves as a weight.

When the machine is receiving water, the auxiliary float F is in thehorizontal position shown in Fig. 1, the trip-pin 13 being in the ICClower position. forcing the ball downward in the inlet-valve. and theoutlet from the dome is closed. As the float D is raised on its tube 23by the water flowing into the dome through the inlet-valve thecompression of air in the dome will insure the auxiliary float Fremaining in its initial position until the upper float .1) has beencarried up to an engagement with the relief or bonnet valve (1 at thetop of the air-vent tube 11. uncovering the top of the said air-venttube and relieving the pressure of air in the dome B. has been stated.the air passing down and out through the air-vent tube to a certainextent. and at such time the upper float I) will raise the guide-tube23. and thus carry the auxiliary float F upward. The inlet-valve willthen be closed. and the outlet 22 will be opened. permitting the waterto readily leave the dome B. As the water leaves the dome the two floatsl and F serve as weights. acting together to close the outlet 22 and toopen the inlet-valve by carrying the valve-lever 1*) to its normalposition. which is shown in Fig. 1.

It will be observed that in the iirst position of the auxiliary float Fit assists the valvelever E in rising. so as to uncover theoutletopening 22. and in the second position it serves as a weight tobring the valve-lever to its normal position. closing the outlet-valve22 and opening the inlet-valve. It will also be observed that inrestoring the valve-lever E to its normal posit-ion it is controlled bythe combined weight of both of the floats l) and F. as the float l) inits lower position will exert its weight on the movable guide-tube 23.which guide-tutu) in its turn is pivoted to the valvelever E. and thesaid valve-lever in its turn is attached to the auxiliary float F.

At the upper portion of the neck 13 ot' the dome a valve-casing 4:0 issecured. and this casing is provided at its upper end with a plug IM.held in place by a suitable gland 1, and this plug is provided with avertical opening t2 extending through it and communicating with aconical recess 4:4: in the bottom of the said plug. as is shown inFig. 1. Above the opening 52 in the said plugtl) a split valve 43 issecured- This valve and its casing is a delivery-valve and is adapted topermit the air compressed in the dome B to be forced out through thesaid split section &3 into a tube *3. connected usually with a hose -13"and with any receptacle adapted to receive the compressed air; but inthe event an accident should happen to the working part of the saiddevice and the water in the dome B should have a tendency to overflowinto the compressed-air-delivery pipe *3 such a disposition of the wateris prevented by locating what 1 term an overflow-valve *5 in the casingit). having a suitable support 46. The upper end of this valve 45 ismore or less conical. so that when an overflow of water occurs in thesaid dome the water will raise the valve 45 and seat it in the recess M.thus preventing the water from leaving the dome until it can be properlydischarged. I desire it. however. to be understood that the constructionof the bonnet-valve G and the construction of the delivery-valve locatedabove the bonnet-valve t'orm no portion 01 the present invention. havingbeen fully described and shown in the patent upon which thisconstruction is an improvement.

Ilaving thusdescribtal my invention. 1 claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. In hydraulic air-compressors. a base haw ing aninlet-valve and an outlet-valve. a dome secured to the base. avalve-lever pivoted within the dome, arranged to control the inletvalveand the outlet-valve. closing one and opening the other. a vent-tubelixcd within the dome, having communication with the dome and with theoutside atmosphere. a tube mounted for movement on the lixcd vent-tube.a bonnet valve having side openings and adapted to normally close theinner end of the vent-tube. the said bonnet-valve having slidingmovement relative to the vent-tube. a flange on the upper end of thesliding tube and loosely located within the bonnet-valve. a float havingsliding movement on the said movable tube. the said float being adaptedto operate on said bonnet-valve and to raise the said movable tube. aconnection between the said movable tube and the valve-lever. and anauxiliary float connected with the said valvelever. being located belowthe lirstnamed float. which auxiliary float tends to assist thevalve-lever in its upward movement. the two floatsbeing buoyant whileimmersed in water and acting as weights as the water leaves the dome.

2. In hydraulic air-compressors. a base having an inlet-valve and anoutlet-valve. means for supplying water to the inlet-valve. a domesecured to the base. an air-vent tube stationarily located at thecentral portion of the base within the dome. the said air-vent tubebeing open at the top and having communication with the atmosphere atits bottom. a guidetube having sliding movement on the venttube. theguide-tube being provided with a flange at its upper end. a bonnet-valvemounted to slide upon the vent-tube and to normally close its upper end.the said bonnet-valve being provided with side openings and with abottom flange adapted in one position of the valve to engage with theflange on the said guide-tube. a valve-lever pivoted above the basewithin the said dome. a pivotal connection between the said valve-leverand the said guide-tube. the valve-lever being adapted for alternatelyopening and closing the inlet and outlet for the dome. a float attachedto the valve-lever and located above the same. an upper floatindependent of the lower float and having limited movement on the saidguidetube. and adapted in its upper position to open &

the bonnet-valve and to operate the valve-lever assisted by the lowerfloat.

3. In hydraulic air-compressors, a base having an inlet-valve and anoutlet-valve, means for supplying water to the inlet-valve, a domesecured to the base, an air-vent tube stationarily located at thecentral portion of the base within the dome, a guide-tube having slidingmovement on the air-vent tube, being provided with a flange at its upperend, the said airvent tube being open at its top and open at its bottom,the bottom opening communicating with the outside atmosphere, a bonnet-I valve mounted to slide on the upper end portion of the vent-tube, thesaid valve having side openings and aflange at its bottom adapted tooccupy a position below the flange on the guide-tube and to engage withsuch flange to lift the guide-tube at one position of the valve, avalve-lever pivoted above the base within the dome, being adapted foralternately opening and closing the inlets and outlets for the dome, thesaid valve-lever being pivoted to the said guide-tube, a float attachedto the valve-lever, an upper float independent of the lower float andmounted to slide on the guide- WILLIAM G. COX.

l Vitnesses:

J. FRED. ACKER, J NO. M. BITTER.

